James "Jim" M Redlinger

James Mark “Jim” Redlinger, 61, of Ellensburg, passed away suddenly at his home on Tuesday, July 26, 2022.  A Celebration of Life will be held at Noon on Saturday, August 6, 2022 at the Kiwanis Park (14th & N. Main) in Ellensburg.

Jim was born on February 20, 1961 in Redding, California to Donald & Rosemary (Connell) Redlinger. His family moved to Ellensburg when Jim was five years old and he completed all of his education in Ellensburg - from kindergarten to college. Jim was a high school athlete, playing baseball, basketball and football for Ellensburg High School before graduating with the Class of 1979.  Following graduation, Jim attended Central Washington University where he earned his degree in manufacturing engineering.

After his graduation from CWU, Jim moved to Bellevue where he was hired as the production manager for an optics company.  He spent 27 years in that position before leaving to take on a somewhat of a consultant role for other companies who wanted to improve their operational efficiency.  In 2018, Jim realized that he had spent his entire career teaching and mentoring others and he wanted to pass that on and help the younger generation.  This prompted him to return to college at Western Governors University to earn his teaching degree in 2020.

Jim met the love of his life, his best friend and wife, Stacy, through a mutual friend in early 2009.  They married on April 1, 2010 and have been inseparable since that time.  They moved to Ellensburg - the place that Jim always considered “home” - in 2020 and Jim then began teaching as a substitute teacher for the Ellensburg School District.  The kids absolutely LOVED when he was in the classroom!

Jim was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking and camping with family and friends.  Jim was proud of his Irish heritage and he never met a stranger - he could talk to anyone about anything. He was a great listener and wanted to know your story.  He truly cared about everyone he met.  Sometimes we would tease him about how much he would talk and he would say back “I am Irish, I don’t know what I am going to say until I say it!”  He loved being teased.

Jim is survived by his wife, Stacy, at the family home in Ellensburg; children Brian Redlinger of Lynnwood; Megan Redlinger and her wife Gabriella Golzarian of Lynnwood; Dale (Alex) Bates II, of Seattle and Jennifer Bubinek of Bellevue; grandchildren Ella and Andilyn as well as his siblings Robert (Kathie) Redlinger of Anchorage; Joan Johnson of Alabama; Susan (Randy) Morrissette of Nebraska and Linda (Harvey) Thurber of Battle Ground; sister in-law Erica of Olympia and his first wife Jill Redlinger of Lynnwood. Jim also leaves behind many nieces and nephews and Aunts, Uncles, cousins and friends who he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents and his infant brother, Mark.

Memorial contributions in Jim’s honor are suggested to the Ellensburg School District Education Foundation, PO Box 464, Ellensburg, WA 98926 or EvergreenHealth Foundation for the Halvorson Cancer Center Fund in honor of Dr. Eric Taylor, 12040 NE 128th St. MS #5 – Kirkland, WA 98034.

Johnston & Williams Funeral Home and Crematory of Ellensburg has been entrusted with caring for Mr. Redlinger and his family.  Online condolences may be left at www.johnston-williams.com